This page is about special operations required in order to install Mozilla Sync Server.

Newer versions of Mozilla Firefox feature bookmarks, passwords, settings and browsing history synchronization between all your computers and devices. Mozilla Foundation provides a public Sync server, but you can host your own one if you want.

Prerequisites

Dependencies

Accessibility

If you intend to use your server with itinerant clients, you should install it on an Internet reachable computer.

Administration Rights

All installation instructions are commands relying on the superuser privileges, so open a terminal and type:

$ su -
Password:
#

Installation

Mozilla Sync Server depends on Python 2 during installation. Arch Linux provides Python 3 as default Python version so there are special tweaks needed before running Mozilla Sync Server setup.
Setup process creates an isolated Python environment in which all necessary dependencies are downloaded and installed. Afterwards, running the server only relies on the isolated Python environment, independently of the system-wide Python.

Start the Sync Server at boot by including mozillaweave in the Daemon list. It depends on the network so it should be placed accordingly.

Client-side configuration

Use the Sync Configuration Wizard in Firefox' Settings to create a new account on the server. Don't forget to choose "Custom server..." in the list, and input the server address: http://server-name.domain-name:5000/

The "Advanced Settings" button allows fine tuning of the synchronized elements list, and the definition of the client hostname.